The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamic Observatory with obtains full disk images that span the temperature range from 6000 to 20,000,000K with arcsecond resolution and a 12 second cadence. Because of the enhanced thermal and temporal coverage and the high dynamic range available with AIA, it has been able to discovery collective behavior associated with energeti solar events that are driven by the expansion of magnetic structures. Nearly half of the M and X class flares seen with AIA have impact over a solar hemisphere and sometimes nearly the entire sphere.

The extent of the events are aided by using co-temporal STEREO data. The rapidly expanding magnetic structures, speeds between 500 and 2000 km/s, trigger filament eruptions, CME’s, and other flares. These “triggered” events are sometimes larger that the initial disturbance. The remote triggering makes flare prediction based upon local energy build up models less valuable, but suggests that with proper coverage prediction of solar events with potential for Earth impact can be made more reliable. Movies of sample events discovered in AIA together with STEREO and EVE data will be shown.

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory 2017-2018 Colloquium Committee is comprised of the following people. Please feel free to contact them by e-mail regarding any possible speakers or topics for future colloquia.

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